The heatwave continued in Beijing and several other northern provinces yesterday, while rainstorms drenched at least half of the country.

The maximum temperature reached 36 degrees Celsius in Beijing yesterday, at least 10 days after the heat began.

The city's weather bureau said yesterday that Beijing had experienced the hottest June since 1951.

The bureau estimated Beijing's temperature would stay high throughout July and August.

While Beijing and neighboring provinces are fighting the heatwave, half of the country is being drenched.

The latest round of rainstorms since Sunday had battered 22 localities, killing 95 people and leaving another 21 missing, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Wednesday.